Let’s Speculate: “Hello, Cruel World”
WARNING!!!!!! If you haven’t seen tonight’s episode of “Supernatural,” read no further! There will be plot discussion and spoilers and other things you won’t want to read unless you have seen the episode. Consider yourself warned! If you’re still here, let’s do this!
First of all, I just want to say to Ben Edlund and Guy Norman Bee, I both love and hate the two of you for the floating trenchcoat scene. Not gonna lie, I cried. Ugh, it was so emotional! There should never be trenchcoat without Cass in it! It’s just wrong! Which is exactly why it was the perfect symbol to show that Cass was really gone this time. Or is he? DUN DUN DUN! This leads me to my Theory of the Week:
Theory of the Week
Cass isn’t dead, and his vessel isn’t gone. Remember the “boss” the Leviathans, especially Edgar, keep talking about? That “boss” is still using Cass as its vessel, and we’ll see him again in the midseason finale. The Leviathans stated a few times that the knowledge their vessels had was important to them. Edgar knew demolitions, hence Bobby’s house being destroyed by a professional. Annie was too small and didn’t know anything, so she had to go. What better vessel to use than an angel? Angels know lots of stuff, and this angel knew the Winchesters, who are thorns in the Leviathans’ sides. It’s a win/win vessel, so why get rid of it? If they can survive being crushed by a car, I’m guessing they can survive drowning, too. I think the reason Cass melted originally is because he had more than one Leviathan crammed inside him. One per vessel is sustainable. And I don’t think Cass himself is dead, either, for three reasons: one, if the Leviathans can hide deep enough for him not to know they were there, I’m betting Cass can do the same thing in his own vessel; two, he said he would find a way to redeem himself to Dean, and I, for one, don’t think the end of last episode was it yet; three, no wings on the ground. Thoughts on my Theory of the Week?
Sam vs. Lucifer
Holy devious devil, Batman! Lucifer really did a number messing with Sam, didn’t he? I mean, wow. Just wow. Sam, bless him, was really trying his best to resist, but you could just see how Lucifer kept wearing him down and wearing him down until he almost snapped. I find it extremely interesting, too, that the methods Lucifer used to break both Winchesters were so different and entirely appropriate to each brother. Dean’s a very tactile person, so when he was in Hell, Lucifer had Alistair torture him to the breaking point. Sam’s more cerebral, so he uses psychologial torture to break him. And yes, I’m sure that when they were in the cage, Sam endured physical torture, but that was Lucifer being angry and lashing out not Lucifer specifically trying to break Sam. I’m not commenting on which is worse, either, merely pointing out that the Devil is one crafty mofo. But since Dean had endured so much physical torture in Hell, and because he’s so aware of physical things, he was able to literally use pain to show the difference between the real world and Hell world. How messed up is that? Pain feels different in the two worlds. But when Lucy popped up in the ambulance, he acknowledged he wasn’t real and was staying around anyway, so Sam has some work to do, doesn’t he? I’m hoping he’ll still be able to use the pain technique, or at least recognize the differences between real-world pain and fake Lucifer stuff.
Bobby
How awesome was Bobby in this episode? The answer is extremely awesome. And it was subtle, too, which made the ending that much more shocking and horrible. There are plenty of episodes where Bobby is awesome, so it didn’t seem out of place when he made his speech to Dean about being there for him, or he tended to Sam and made sure he was okay, or when he showed up and got Sheriff Mills the heck out of Dodge. So to see his house burned down and not know if he’s okay or not? Brutal!
******* Spoiler alert for 7.03 ******* Skip down to the next set of asterisks if you don’t want to know! *******
Though, with the release of the promo photos from 7.03, the effect of the ending is slightly dampened, isn’t it?
************************ Read on from here for no spoilers *********************************
I just want to go back to the fact that Bobby’s house got burned down! I guess “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” really is a theme for this year, two outlaws on the run and all. We’ll know for sure if they head out to The-Hole-In-The-Wall. But seriously, what now? Bobby’s house was their one safe haven, and without that, what are they going to do? No panic room, no place to crash, no library of amazing books for research. And just a guess here, but I doubt Bobby had insurance on that place. What’s he going to do now?
Dean
The hits just keep on coming for poor Dean. Sam’s messed up, and Dean’s not coping well with that at all. Cass is gone, and like Bobby said, he was the best friend Dean ever had, and then Bobby’s house is torched, Bobby’s missing, the Leviathans are totally out to get them, Sam’s seizing, his leg is broken, and they’re being transported to Leviathan General Hospital. Oh, and apocalyptic doom, of course. I’m curious to see how he’s going to handle this because I’m exhausted just thinking about it. He did do a good job of talking Sam down in the warehouse and really reaching him and helping Sam temporarily get rid of Lucifer. But I just don’t know how much more the poor guy can take.
Odds and Ends
“Black Water” was such an excellent song choice for that montage. Clearly, it was the only song they could have used. And that’s now three great songs in two episodes! Perhaps the music budget was upped.
I hope Sheriff Mills sticks around because I like her a lot. Maybe Bobby can crash at her place while he rebuilds his house! And maybe his renovations can include two spare bedrooms, for goodness sake. Why are those boys still sleeping on the couch?
RIP, Bobby’s book collection. You were extremely useful, one-of-a-kind, and now gone. That might be the biggest blow of all in the house-burning deal. Did Bobby have something in his collection that the Leviathans didn’t want him to find?
“Are you a Dr. Sexy?”
The door to the fake office building said “Morning Star Endeavors.” Nicely done, “Supernatural.”
Can Mark Pellegrino please be in every episode? He’s so much fun.
I think the pacing through the first two episodes has been tremendous. A lot of things have happened, and I’ll be curious to see if the show can maintain some of this breakneck speed.
So, what did you think of the second episode? Are you, like me, willingly disbelieving that that’s the last we’ve seen of Cass? Because if it is, I’m going to be a little more than upset about the way he exited. Until I’m proven wrong, though, I will continue to hope that he’s coming back because I am optimistic like that.
So much to process! I just did the rewatch and my head is swimming. I know, floating trenchcoat, me busting into a fit of tears. Oh, Castiel, we love you.
But Sammy! I have no words over how incredible that scene was between Dean and Sam in the warehouse. Dean is finally able to give Sam some advice that helps him psychologically. No statements about repressing it with alcohol and outbursts of violence. I love how Dean opened up about how he knows torture. I’m just…I better find better words for the review.
Mark Pellegrino, Kim Rhodes, just awesome. Guy Bee’s direction, awesome. Ben Edlund, you are a God.
Enough incoherent rambling. THIS is what season six was missing.
I really like your theory about Cas because I don’t want that to be his end! Dean picking up the trench coat & rolling it up to take it with him…yeah, that definitely brought a tear to my eye.
I loved how the guys were all “sharing & caring” in their owned warped way, with Sam coming clean about the hallucinations, Dean claiming he was fine but acknowledging that Bobby knew he was far from okay, & Bobby just being his sarcastic always-there-for-the-boys self. Sam’s anguish in trying to distinguish reality from Luci’s lies was so palpable, and Dean’s desperate attempt to reach Sam through the hallucinations had me tensed on the edge of the couch.
Then to end yet another consecutive episode wit a cliffhanger… such sweet torture!!!
And what about Dean’s phone message to Bobby? “If you’re not around I’m going to strap my “beautiful mind” little brother into the car and drive off the pier.” Or something like that. Just wow.
Oh, my goodness, yes! That was about the 5th time those pesky tears clouded my vision during this episode!
Well my theory that cass redeems himself by self sacrifice is still being held up, because i totaly thought the same thing regarding your theory of the week. After the Winchesters find a way to destroy these things i’m sure they will still have too much to handle with the big boss (alpha?) and thats when cass takes the wheel…now something a little moree outside the box, did anyones ears perk up when lucifer said “sam i’m the only one that can–” i know its a longshot but i just can hear the rest of that sentence being “stop the leviathans.” ..highy improbably, but lucifer being cut off seemed important and him being the only arch angel left (well i guess there is michael) kinda supports that. Just speculating of course
Man oh man oh man oh man oh man oh man oh man! My stomach is still in knots! Supernatural has never scared me before, until tonight! Next Friday night is way too far away! By the way, I agree with your theory regarding Castiel. I have got to go watch this again, right now.
..also, there is no way they would have misha be so awesome at the end of the last episode when he was possessed and not capitalize on it by bringing him back as that same character later. Castiel’s story doesn’t end with a simple walk in a lake, bet my life on that one
I’m actually watching the episode right now, so this is not so much a speculation as it is a technical question. Was anyone else’s sound off? I started watching and the dialog/sound effects dodn’t match AT ALL. At first it was funny now it’s just irritating!
No, that’s usually a DVR issue, or your local affiliate. I get that a lot with my NBC station.
WOW! What a terrific episode. 😆 I agree with you Alice that the way the season has unfolded this year is the way last year’s should have been. Guy Bee, Ben Edlund, the entire cast and crew kept me on the edge of the my seat the entire episode. The pacing was fantastic. No lapse. I hope it keeps up. I’m eagerly awaiting the next episode. 😆
Ardeospina, you did a wonderful job on this article. I agree with you on so many points. I don’t think we’ve seen the last of Cas. As for Dean, I don’t think there is much more he can take. Poor guy. My heart aches for him and for Sam. Sam is really going through “Hell”. This is going to be a tough one for him. I just hope Sam comes through it in one piece; a little worse for wear, but whole. I think Bobby is okay and probably with Sheriff Mills. She would make a good “love” interest for him. A strong woman who knows that things actually go bump in the night, like Ellen and Ellie. 😀
goddamnit! after this episode… it’s just like… god!
– the trench coat (I cried)
– Sammy and Dean talk (I cried)
Dean’s message to bobby (I cried)
Dean at the end (I cried)
for god sake I think I’ve never cried that much pretty much my whole life!
And then there’s Bobby’s house and Lucifer (thanks not excactly to god he’s back)
Damn it … These two firt eppies have been just awesomely good as the friggin hell… I can’t even think well after all those new things to process… I just… I just think after this really wpic night I’n so not gonna sleep. Dear god, this is so great…. I love it , I love my boys I loved this eppie and I can’t wait to watch the other 21..holy blond cheerleader batman!!!!!
I believe Cas will come back as Cas himsel.
And I also hope Bobby’s got copies of his gorgeous library. You know?he’s paranoid bastard!
paranoid bastard that wasn’t expecting his house to be anhilated. When he made a copy of a journal it was still located in the house..although you would imagine mr. paranoid bastard would have home owner’s insurance
I completely lost it when Dean left that message for Bobby. That showed that Dean’s only hold in live right now is Bobby. He is the only person alive and sane at the moment that he trusts. Well, at least before he found the demolitioned house. Loosing Bobby makes him think about suicide. On the other hand, he is not ready to die just yet, since the wants the ambulance to take them to another hospital.
I also believe we are going to see Cas again and that we won’t have to wait till midseason for that.
Can’t wait for the next epi. It is the one Jensen directed. I am dying to see.
This episode itself was great, but honestly I was hoping for more with the Cas scenes considering this was gonna be the last time in a while before we see him, it seemed lame that our last memory so far is gonna be one line of dialog with a two min scene of Cas walking around like a zombie into a lake…it just felt rather anti-climatic, I expected more from Ben Edlund, so I felt rather let down where Cas is concerned.
But more than ever I’m convinced Cas isn’t dead because that just can’t be the last exit for Cas, it would be silly!
Loved it nothing else I can say 🙂
Just had to say–Jensen/Dean sounded a bit off to me last night (not off as in ‘bad’ but off as in I couldn’t understand what he said several times.) I don’t know if it was a mike issue or just a weird sound thing, but it led to a hysterical misunderstanding during his phone call to Bobby. When he said the “Beautiful MInd” line, what I heard was, “If you’re not around I’m going to strap my beautiful little brother into the car and drive off a cliff.” And I had several seconds of …what…did he just….okay, if they really want to go there…before I realized he must have said ‘beautiful *mind*.’ Heh. Sound screw-ups lead to unintentional hilarity during intense moments.
Hey all. I know I haven’t been around much over the last season or so. And while I love all of the episodes and seasons of Supernatural for their own reasons, I haven’t been this energized since season 4. I just watched the episodes, enjoyed them and then waited for the next one. Could also be that I overloaded on SuperN…….Nah, that couldn’t be it, could it?
Anyhow, they really have gotten back to the feel of the earlier seasons. I LOVE it! I can hardly wait for next week’s episode. Dean’s leg is broken? Well, I guess they had to find some way to take him out of action so Jensen could direct, right? The next epi is his isn’t it?
Oh, why can’t it be Friday again already!
I just re-read your post and I had a thought. If someone else has already posted what I am about to say please accept my apologies, I haven’t read all of the comments. I’m wondering if, in addition to all of the physical torture Sam endured, Lucifer also played mind games with Sam. If there were times when he did make him think he had been rescued. I’m thinking that is why Sam is now having such a hard time dealing with the hallucinations, because this same kind of thing has happened to him before. Just a thought. Is it next Friday yet?
I don’t know about specifically being rescued, but I have no doubt that Lucifer played mind games with Sam. Sam’s always been the cerebral one, taking comfort in facts and knowledge when everything else was crazy around him. For him, I think, taking the safe haven of his mind away is a far worse torture than anything physical he could endure (not that physical torture isn’t horrific in its own right).
For Dean, he’s still haunted by the fact that he turned torturer, hurting people after his whole life had been devoted to saving people. His solace among all the crap–saving people–has been tainted by Hell. Sam, now, is haunted by the fact the one thing he could rely on when the world is crazy–his mind–has been violated. How do you move on when your very specific way of dealing with everything has been tainted? In that way, their tortures, I think, were very specific to them in the end and that makes it all the more heart-breaking.
Not anxious to see Castiel back but I sort of do hope he comes back….if only so he can apologize TO Sam. Sam is in Hell again, all because of castiel tearing down the wall.
Otherwise, loved the episode.
I agree, if Castiel comes back he better be crawling over glass to apologize over and over again for all the crap he did to Sam, beginning with starting the Apocalypse and letting Sam shoulder all the blame. I saw alot of fans jumping off the Castiel bandwagon the moment he suggested leaving the real Sam in hell (Caged Heat) so that the soulless version can survive to hunt Alpha monsters for him. It’s Castiel’s arrogance that condemned Sam to suffer 100+ years in hell and Castiel final betrayal sends Sam back to that hell.
Not sure what Castiel can do to make it up to Sam. Even though Sam has already forgiven Cas, that’s not the point. Cas needs to actually realize the enormity of his actions and even in his dying scene that self awareness was still lacking.
I agree that this episode (and the premiere) was so much better than anything we got in S6. Full of tension and covered so much ground.
My thoughts on Cas: He’ll be back. I am kind of disappointed in that, as I wanted the angels put to bed for good. That said, Cas was used to show another very deep loss for Dean and the depths to which he is spiraling.
Bobby is alive and well. My heart broke when his house was burned down. I liked that house. But, I am looking forward to the show getting back that road trip feel to it.
I liked the Leviathan. They’re creepy. And let’s not forget that they use the knowledge of their vessel (which this episode brought out in a very good way), and that’s why the boys’ old knowledge and tricks aren’t going to work. I’m glad about that. We’ll get to see how smart they are again.
I’m in the minority in not particularly liking the Sam hallucinations. To me, the tension was sucked out of the air every time they flipped back to them. That said, I thought Edlund’s script was brilliant in using those hallucinations to highlight the brothers’ relationship. Dean was able to pull Sam back.
I would love the show to take Dean dark. He’s always so feral and out of control when he trips out. It would be perfect, to me, to have Dean rampaging, being the impetus to pulling Sam 100% back into reality because he has to pull Dean back. The setup is there, but I don’t know if that’s the direction the show to take. I’m thinking more that it will be a Cas redemption story.
‘Old black water keep on rollin’
Mississippi moon, won’t you keep on shinin’ on me’
Always loved that song by The Doobie Brothers
Your Theory:
I too am one willingly disbelieving that that’s the last we will see of Castiel.
I would hate to think that that is how they would end Castiel with his trench coat floating in the water….sniff.
I truly believe the Boss is wearing Castiel/Jimmy’s vessel and he will show himself eventually. I also believe that Castiel will regain his strength and control of his vessel.
Hey your talking to someone who still believes that Gabriel/Trickster will be back. I firmly believe God resurrected his son and after a good talking to, they are now currently sitting on a beach or cloud somewhere drinking Margaritas and reconnecting.
Sam vs Lucifer:
OMG! Poor Sammy.
Could Lucifer be more diabolical?
What he is going through is so devastating.
I have to admit I’m a bit confused by these hallucinations.
Is it all just in Sam’s head or has Lucifer somehow connected himself to Sam?
For Sam to be able to drive a car to an unknown location, while the whole time thinking he was the passenger, really shocked me. It’s kind of frightening that someone could get behind the wheel of a car and drive while hallucinating.
Bobby:
I have to agree Bobby’s so awesome.
I just love him.
I believe he’s ok but I hate what has happened to his house and his library.
This was not only his home and place of business but his and the brother’s refuge as well.
Dean:
My heart breaks for this man.
The stress and pressures he is under, it’s surprising he hasn’t eaten a bullet yet.
His voice message to Bobby had me all teary eyed.
Who really is left in his life that he can turn to?
Sam and Dean:
I loved the scene between Sam and Dean in the warehouse.
With Dean trying so desperately to help his brother and Sam on the verge of falling apart.
How much more can these two take?
Are they ever going to get a break?
I don’t know about anyone else, but I am just loving this season so far.
I am finding myself sitting on the edge of my seat totally captivated, and totally shocked when the closing credits come on. It’s like “It can’t be over yet, it just started!â€
Was it ever said Jimmy still shared his body with cas? I know i’m wrong but i always, for some reason, assumed jimmy died when cas was smited by rafael in Lucifer Rising. To me, it made sense so the viewer wouldn’t always feel bad Jimmy was stuck with no control..plus Anna was able to come back to earth without a traditional human-occupied vessel, so i just assumed when God brought castiel back he did so without forcing jimmy to stick around
In My Bloody Valentine, Cas went on a hamburger bender and he said it was because his vessel is hungry for red meat; so the implication is that Jimmy is still home. It’s also been heavily implied that angels need souled vessels, otherwise why couldn’t they occupy empty vessels like Ruby did? Demons are broken corrupted human souls and when they possess humans, dead or alive it doesn’t matter, the demon’s own soul “power” the vessel. But angels are soulless (confirmed by Cass) and needs living souled vessels, so pity the poor fools that say “yes” to him.
Minor correction: Bobby called Castiel “one of the best friends” Dean would ever have. Not THE best friend, just one. No doubt Dean feels bad that things turn out the way they did but it’s silly to expect instant forgiveness or extended mourning period by Dean. Castiel’s betrayal of Dean by tearing down Sam’s wall is still too fresh. If Castiel was any kind of friend to Dean, he would of never of done that to Sam. And now this season, all the pain, injuries and loss the Winchester brothers will suffer is because of Castiel: Sam’s hell torment and the Leviathans creating a swath of loss in the brothers’ path, starting with Bobby’s house.
Season 7 is shaping up to be a very exciting season. The villains are smart and interesting and it appears that the hell experience will deepen the bond between the brothers. Who would have thought, pain therapy.
I am so geeking out over this season, and we’re only two episodes in! I’m going with your theory about Cas Ardeo, I want him to come back. Seeing that trencoat floating on the water and Dean’s reaction “Okay, so he’s gone”, was just so sad. I’ve watched three times already. This episode was so heavy, damn you Ben Edlund you genius.
And Sam, OMG, poor Sammy. I love the way Dean talked him back to reality in that warehouse (Morningstar Endeavers, genius). Someone posted that it’s surprising Dean hasn’t eaten a bullet yet. I tend to agree, he is so trying to keep it together. I love it when he told Bobby that he kept his marbles in a lead box. But the message he leaves Bobby at the end, broke my heart. He is very vulnerable.
Third victim…Bobby’s house! Oh no, all those wonderful one-of-a-kind books, gone. And where in the world is Bobby? I can’t wait for next week.
Last thought, I hope that Bobby needs to ask Sheriff Mills for help now that him and the boys are pretty much homeless now.
ahhhh yeah one of the episodes ive managed to watch only twice (compared to 10-20 for most) i do remember him saying that in MBV..thanks, kinda knew i was wrong but it was bothering me not being sure..Anna not really having a vessel and the general lack of mention of Jimmy threw me off